Jack White has issued an apology for comments he made about the Black Keys in a recent interview as well as in private correspondence, NME reports.

Writing on this official website, he posted a blog entitled "An apology and explanation from Jack White," in which he stated he was addressing comments made to "clear up a lot of the negativity surrounding things I've said or written, despite the fact that I loathe to bring more attention to these things."

Talking about the letters which came to light last year, in which he appeared to criticise Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, he commented: "...my private letters were made public for reasons I still don't understand. They contained comments that were part of a much bigger scenario that is difficult to elaborate on, and also one that I really shouldn’t have to explain as it was personal and private in nature."

He added that he wishes the Black Keys "all the success that they can get." He continues: "I hope the best for their record label Nonesuch who has such a proud history in music, and in their efforts to bring the Black Keys songs to the world. I hope for massive success also for their producer and songwriter Danger Mouse and for the other musicians that their band employs. Lord knows that I can tell you myself how hard it is to get people to pay attention to a two piece band with a plastic guitar, so any attention that the Black Keys can get in this world I wish it for them, and I hope their record stays in the top ten for many months and they have many more successful albums in their career."

Regarding comments made about Lana Del Rey, Adele and Duffy, where he was quoted as saying they "would not have happened if Amy Winehouse was alive," he said in the blog post they were "wonderful performers with amazing voices." He added: "I also would love to state that I personally find it inspiring to have powerful, positive female voices speaking out and creating at all times in the mainstream, and all of those singers do just that, so I thank them."

He also addressed comments made about his former bandmate in the White Stripes, Meg White, in which he appeared to say he didn't speak to her anymore. "She is a strong female presence in rock and roll, and I was not intending to slight her either, only to explain how hard it was for us to communicate with our very different personalities," he explained in the blog post. "This got blown out of proportion and made into headlines, and somehow I looked like I was picking on her. I would never publicly do that to someone I love so dearly. And, there are mountains of interviews where my words are very clear on how important I think she is to me and to music."

He finished the piece by writing: "So, God bless the Black Keys, Danger Mouse, Adele, Meg White, and anyone else I've spoken about, and thank you for understanding. Good fortune to all of them, and I'm sorry for my statements hurting anyone."

Jack White's new album "Lazaretto" is released on June 9. He will play a one-off UK show this summer at London's Eventim Apollo on July 5. It is White's second scheduled appearance in the UK this summer after he plays Glastonbury Festival later this month. "Lazaretto" is White's second solo album and the follow up to his 2012 debut "Blunderbuss."

It sounds like all he said, was that certain artists may not have achieved success, if not for the artists who came before them.
If so, it would seem a complete non-story was blown way the hell out of proportion by the media.

It's mostly the fact that Jack White went so far as to take his kids out of a school system because an artist was an "*******" for getting famous after the White Stripes, despite the fact that they had been making the same kind of music before Jack White was a force in the music world.

One of my good friends used to get music lessons from a guy who is close with both members (we live in Ohio, sadly). Both members would show up at his lessons occasionally, and my friend said the same thing every time- "Patrick is one of the coolest people I've ever met, and in contrast, Dan is one of the most pretentious *******s I've ever had to be around."

Ha has anyone read the whole thing? Basically Jack White says his comments are all meant for producers and media insiders, guessing he means, internal industry hate is rife and I am a big player and love to slag everyone else off. But the best part is where he esentially says that the general public can't grasp his intentions - so he's apologising to the Black Keys for insulting them by insulting EVERYBODY ELSE on planet Earth for not getting his comments slagging bands off is about something more ethereal and intangible and only understandable by the great and good within his inner industry circle.
I like all of Jack's many projects (despite the fact that he's ripped off as much of his stuff as he accuses the Black Keys of doing)but he can be an absolute arse.
That said if I stopped listening to every piece of music I liked because it turned out the artist was a colossal prick I wouldn't be left with much...